Isaiah 14 : 1 (ERVEN)
The Lord will again show his love to Jacob. He will again choose the people of Israel. He will give them their land. Then the non-Israelites will join the Israelites, and both will become one family�Jacob's family.
Isaiah 14 : 2 (ERVEN)
Those nations will bring the Israelites back to their land. The men and women from the other nations will become slaves to Israel. In the past, those people forced the Israelites to become their slaves. But in the future the Israelites will defeat those nations, and Israel will then rule over them.
Isaiah 14 : 3 (ERVEN)
In the past, you were slaves. People forced you to work hard. But the Lord will take away the hard work you were forced to do.
Isaiah 14 : 4 (ERVEN)
At that time you will begin to sing this song about the king of Babylon: The king was cruel when he ruled us, but now his rule is finished.
Isaiah 14 : 5 (ERVEN)
The Lord breaks the scepter of evil rulers; he takes away their power.
Isaiah 14 : 6 (ERVEN)
In anger, the king of Babylon beat the people. He never stopped beating them. He was an evil ruler who ruled in anger. He never stopped hurting people.
Isaiah 14 : 7 (ERVEN)
But now, the whole country rests and is quiet. Now the people begin to celebrate.
Isaiah 14 : 8 (ERVEN)
You were an evil king, and now you are finished. Even the pine trees are happy. The cedar trees of Lebanon rejoice. They say, "The king chopped us down, but now the king has fallen, and he will never stand again."
Isaiah 14 : 9 (ERVEN)
The place of death is excited that you are coming. Sheol is waking the spirits of all the leaders of the earth for you. Sheol is making the kings stand up from their thrones to meet you.
Isaiah 14 : 10 (ERVEN)
They will make fun of you, saying, "Now you are as dead as we are. Now you are just like us."
Isaiah 14 : 11 (ERVEN)
Your pride has been sent down to Sheol. The music from your harps announces the coming of your proud spirit. Maggots will be the bed you lie on, and other worms will cover your body like a blanket.
Isaiah 14 : 12 (ERVEN)
You were like the morning star, but you have fallen from the sky. In the past, all the nations on earth bowed down before you, but now you have been cut down.
Isaiah 14 : 13 (ERVEN)
You always told yourself, "I will go to the skies above. I will put my throne above God's stars. I will sit on Zaphon, the holy mountain where the gods meet.
Isaiah 14 : 14 (ERVEN)
I will go up to the altar above the tops of the clouds. I will be like God Most High."
Isaiah 14 : 15 (ERVEN)
But that did not happen. You were brought down to the deep pit�Sheol, the place of death.
Isaiah 14 : 16 (ERVEN)
People will come to look at your dead body. They will think about you and say, "Is this the same man who caused great fear in all the kingdoms on earth,
Isaiah 14 : 17 (ERVEN)
who destroyed cities and turned the land into a desert, who captured people in war and would not let them go home?"
Isaiah 14 : 18 (ERVEN)
Kings of the earth are buried in glory, each king with his own grave.
Isaiah 14 : 19 (ERVEN)
But you were thrown out of your grave, like a branch cut from a tree and thrown away. You are like a dead man who fell in battle, trampled by the feet of other soldiers. Now you look like any other dead man wrapped in burial clothes.
Isaiah 14 : 20 (ERVEN)
Other kings have their own graves, but you will not join them, because you ruined your own country and killed your own people. So your wicked descendants will be stopped.
Isaiah 14 : 21 (ERVEN)
Prepare to kill his children, because their father is guilty. His children will never take control of the land. They will never fill the world with their cities.
Isaiah 14 : 22 (ERVEN)
The Lord All-Powerful said, "I will stand and fight against those people. I will destroy the famous city, Babylon. I will destroy all the people there. I will destroy their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren." The Lord himself said this.
Isaiah 14 : 23 (ERVEN)
"I will change Babylon. It will be a place for animals, not people. It will be a swamp. I will use the 'broom of destruction' to sweep Babylon away." The Lord All-Powerful said this.
Isaiah 14 : 24 (ERVEN)
The Lord All-Powerful made this promise: "This will happen exactly as I meant for it to happen. It will happen just the way I planned.
Isaiah 14 : 25 (ERVEN)
I will destroy the king of Assyria in my country. I will walk on him on my mountains. He forced my people to be his slaves; he put a yoke on their necks. But that pole will be taken off Judah's neck, and that burden will be removed.
Isaiah 14 : 26 (ERVEN)
This is what I plan to do for this land. I will use my power to punish all those nations."
Isaiah 14 : 27 (ERVEN)
When the Lord makes a plan, no one can keep it from happening. When the Lord raises his arm to punish people, no one can stop him.
Isaiah 14 : 28 (ERVEN)
This message was given the year King Ahaz died:
Isaiah 14 : 29 (ERVEN)
Country of Philistia, don't be happy that the king who beat you is now dead. It is true that his rule has ended, but his son will come and rule. It will be like one snake giving birth to a more dangerous one. The new king will be like a quick and dangerous snake to you.
Isaiah 14 : 30 (ERVEN)
But even the poorest of my people will be able to eat safely. And their children will be able to lie down and feel safe. But I will make your family die from hunger, and your enemy will kill anyone who survives.
Isaiah 14 : 31 (ERVEN)
People near the city gates, cry! People in the city, cry out! Everyone in Philistia, your courage will melt like hot wax. Look to the north! There is a cloud of dust. An army is coming, and everyone in that army is strong.
Isaiah 14 : 32 (ERVEN)
But what will the messengers from that nation report about us? They will say, "The Lord made Zion strong, and his poor people went there for safety."
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